Hub-cap-locking device



Sept. 1s, 1923.

2 Sheets-Sheet l YIIIII F JERDONE, JR

HUB'GAP LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24

mm .M E E @HV W.

Franc/'s le/doffe J/r ATTORNEY Sept. 18 1923.l KAGSA'M F. JERDONE, JR

HUB CAP LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24 1919 2 Shee\,s-Shee1; 2

1N V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY Franc/ls Je/doffe all.'

Patented Sept. I8, i923.

heiterem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS JERDONE, JR.,O.`F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVERLND COMPANY, 0F VTOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HUB-CAP-LOCKING DEVICE.

T 0 all whomitmajl/ concern.: Y

Be it known that I, FRANCIS JERDoNn, J r., residing at Toledo, county of Lucas, State ot' Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hub-Cap-Iiocking Devices, of which I declare the following to be aY i'ull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to hub cap locking devices, and has for its object to simplify the construction of devices of this kind, and to reduce the number of parts required to acoompish the desired results, thereby effecting a reduction in the cost of manufacture of a device of this character.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a hub cap locking device which is simple in'operation, and which is actuated automatically to release positionv by the tool used for removing the cap Jfrom the hub.

A further object' of the invention is to provide a one piece locking device for retaining the hub cap in proper positionupon `the hub, said devicebeing adapted to extend into locking engagement with the hub when in normal position, and to be moved to release position by a wrench or other tool adapted for use in removing the Ahub cap from' the hub. Y Y i Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a circular spring member, one end ot which is fixed upon the hub cap and the other end provided with a lateral `or upstanding projection adapted to normally extend into locking engagement with the hub or a suitable holding member xed thereon.

To these and other ends the invention comprises certain novelteatures of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out in the ap-.

pended claims, it being understood that the locking device is susceptible to `various modifications in the detailed construction thereof without departing `from the spirit of the invent-ion as expressed in the claims.

A structure constituting 'one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a fragmentary, sectional ele- 'thereon i Figure II is a front elevation of the hub,

partly in section, showing the hub cap locking device in normal locking position.

Figure III is a detail, side elevation on au enlarged scale of the locking member shown in Figure II.

Figure IV is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the upper end of the locking device. Y

Figure V is a similar View of a slightly modiiied form of the invention.

Figures VI and VII are detailed perspective views ot another modiiication ot the invention which represent different steps in the process of manufacture of the device.

Figure VIII is a detailed perspective view of a slightly modified form 'of the invention over that shown in Figure VII.

Figure IX is a Jfragmentary sectionalV elevation of a hub similar to that shownin Figure I, embodyin.C a slightly modiiied form of locking device.

Figure X is a front elevation and part sectional view of the hub shown in Figure IX with the spring in normal locking posi tion.

Figure XI is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a hub showing still another modified form or the invention.

Figure XII is a detail perspective view ofche locking member-'shown in Figure XI, an Y Y Figure XIII is a similar view of a locking memberhaving the locking projection formed integral with the spring.

Similar'reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Heretofore in the construction of hub cap locking devices it has been customaryT to provide a yieldable or spring-like member in connectionv with a pivoted latch torpre venting the accidental displacement of the hub cap. Many forms of locking devices embodying this general idea have been worked out, but so far as I am aware there have been none provided in which the locking portion of the device is formed integral with or made rigid upon the yieldable member for holding said device in locking engagement with the hub or someform of Vprojection thereon. vation of a` wheel hub and cap secure'd Referring to the drawings,-1O represents the outer and 1l the inner hub portions of the wheel, said portions being provided with co-operating annular inclined surfaces `12 and 13 respectively which are adapted to lock` said parts to prevent rotation of the 20,the latter being provided with a tapered or cone shaped tace 21 adapted to seat upon a correspondingly shaped and outwardly inclined portion 22 of the outer hub mein* Y ber 12, said portion 22being provided with anvinwardly inclined portion 23 having a.

circular ojoeiiiiig substantially or' a diaineter equal tothe outside diameter of the cap member 20; The portionsr22 and 23l of the outer hub member extend substantially atpa right angle to each other and between theirninner faces a recess` 2d is formed around the hub cap member 20; vVitliinthis recess and upon the inner face of said portion 23 is positioned a ring 25 having the laterally extending fingers 25 spaced at suitable intervals, said ring and fingers being preferably secured in position by spot welding. It will be understood that these partsare merely illustrative of one form of a latch holding device and that any other' suitable form may -be substituted therefor" to engage the yieldable locliing member which will presently be described;

It will'` be noted 'from Figure I that the inner ap member 19 is considerably-reduced at its outer end where it connects with the outer cap member 20, thereby providing` an anniilaireeess 2G, in which is mounted the'yieldable locking member indicated generally at 27. The locking meinber 27 comprisesa semiwcircular or curved spring, preferably formed of springiwire, one Aend of' which is. provided with a rightangleY portion 2S seated in an aperture formed in the ivarll of the outer eapmemH ber 2O as shown in Figure Il. i The opp-osi'tc end ot the semi-circular spring inenilier 27 is bent to torni an out Yardly extending loop 29,'whicl`i isv inclined. downwardly as shown in Figure llhand provided with an upstanding locking `projection 30 adapted toY elttendithrough an aperture inithe wall oi the outer' cap member 20, and, into engagement with one oi the fingersv2 within the. recess 24k 'formed by vthe annular por tions 22 and 2?) of the outer hub ymember l2. ,In4 the construction ot the locking end oil" the spring meinb'er- 27 the vloop 29 and the upstand'ing locking projection' 3() thereon `maybe formed at oneoperationdn a suitabledie constructed for the purpose, the loop beinginclined downwardly if preferred at the saine time and by the same machine in which said-loop isyonstructedljn1t `will be noted that the locking member 27 is formed of spring Wire, which is peculiarly adaptedl for the purpose intended; The particular advantage in forming the loop 29 o't' round material lies in the fact that when the side portions 31 of the loop are bent into parallel relation, as shown in Figuie IV, and then inclined downwardly, said side portions 'torni a guideway 32 igor receiving oneot the pins or projections on the Spanner or cap removing tool (not shown) which are adapted to project throughv the apertures 33 in the. outer tace of the capk member 120. Duringthis operation one of said pins or projections, will be forcedalong the, inclined guideway to efle'ctla depression ofi the upstanding lockingn poiti'onSO of the spring 27, said upstandingportion` being depressed sufficiently to clear the locking finger25 without disengaging the `cap portion 20,after which the turning of the capi -by means of the spanner` is effected to permit its removal from the hub. The spring member 27, therefore, can not be accidentally displaced by the use ofA the, Spanner or other tool in removing theicap from the hub. The up standingI portion 30 of theiloclringrneia ber isi preferably bent up. Afrom the outer ,side portionv of the loop 29, although it may be attached -to the loop; or to the curved portion ofthe spring adjacent the loop if desired. Thelower or outer end oit the loop 29=as shownA in Figure Ivprojects inline with one of the aperturesl 1in* the outer face ot the cap portion 2O in such away that when the pin on the Spanner is' projected through the aperture it will immediately engage said loop between the'. side portions 31, as previously stated. i

In the modification shown in Figure V, the loop is depressed at the point where it is bent upon itself, as indicated at 34, whereby the-spanner pin may be more readily guided into proper position upon the loop.

\Vhile I have shown that portionof` the locking device which is engaged by the spanner pin asbeing in the torni of a loop, it will be understood that said portion `mayy be formed ofV one solid grooved piece it desired. Y

ln the construction of the modified formV ofthe. invention shown in Figures VI and VH the spring wire is first termed as shown in Figure IV, and is then flattened vout as indicated at in F igure-V. The `flattened portion is then curved as indicated at 3G in Figure VH, preferably by the use ot Va suitable die or otherl tool or machine Ysuitable orthe purpose. it will be understood, ofc-course, that the. flattening and curvinggof saidginemher may be effected at is vided for thepurpose if so desired. It will be vnoted from Figures VI and VII that although the loop is flattened and curved, the side portions thereof still remain in spaced relation except at the point where the bend is made, the same as in Figure IV. However, in the modified form shown in `Figure VIIIsaid side portionsware united or welded together for .substantially their full length, as indicated at 37. The curvedportions 36 and 37 both extend downwardly and outwardlyand are thereby inclined relatively to the horizontal axis of the hub, and each of said members forms an inclined guideway on which the pin of the Spanner is adapted' t-o ride when forced inwardly by the application of the wrench to the hub cap for the purpose of unscrewing the same; it being understood that in any of the modiiications shown and in the preferred form of the invention, Whenever the wrench is in position to effect a turning or unscrewing of the hub cap, that the upstanding locking portion 30 of the device will be depressed sufliciently to disengage'the locking fingers or any other form of locking projection extending in the path of said portion 30.

lhile I have vshown the spring 27 and the locking portion 30 as being integral, it will be understood that the latter may be detachable, though rigidly connected with the former, if desired, as it is not absolutely essential that these parts be made in one piece as shown. is thought, however, at the present time, that this device will be more satisfactory and can be manufactured cheaper if made in one piece, as the prefV fcrred form shows.

vIn the modification shown in Figures IX and X the spring 38 is provided with a circular loop 39 which is preferably inclined outwardly as shown in Figure IX in position to receive the pin on the Spanner when the latter is applied to the hub to remove the cap therefrom, it being understood that with the pin projecting through the loop, the turning of the Spanner will depress said loop and cause the upstanding projection thereon to disengage the fingers of the ring 25, the Spanner pinv being of course considerably smaller in diameter than the opening 33 in the hub cap to insure ample play in the manipulating 0f the Spanner to produce the desired result. Y

In the modifica-tion shown in Figures XI to XIII inclusive I have provided arrelatively short leaf spring 40 which is preferably secured at one end to the inner face of the outer cap member 20 by means of a bolt or rivet il as shown in Figure XI. The free end of the leaf spring 40 is provided in one instance with an upstanding pin 42 and in the other with an integral upturned projection 4:3, each one of which, when in use,

lis adapted to extend into locking engagement with the fingers 25 of the ring 25. The leaf springs 4:0 are each provided at their free ends with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions l-d, upon which the pin or projection on the Spanner is adapted t0 ride when the latter is applied to the hub cap, whereby the spring is depressed and the pin l2 or projection 43 moved out of engagement with the finger 25 to permit the cap vto be unscrewedfrom the hub.

While -I have show-nand described one embodiment of my invention in the present application, it will be'understood, 0f course, that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction of the parts shown since it will be evident that other forms of construction may be designed without departing from the spirit of the invention when considered in its broadest aspect, as claimed herein.

Having set forth the objects and nature of my invention and the construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a wheel structure comprising a hub and a hub cap having openings therethrough for the reception of a Spanner wrench, means for locking said cap to said hub embodying an inherently yieldable member arranged to be attached at one point only to the hub cap and having an outwardly eX- tending projection for engagement with the hub to prevent accidental displacement of the cap upon the hub, and a laterally projecting portion'provided with a cam surface adapted to be ennaged by the wrench and withdrawn thereby from contact with the hub.

2. In a wheel structure comprising a hub and a hub cap having openings therethrough for the reception of a Spanner wrench, means for locking said cap to said hub embodying a spring arranged to be anchored at`one end upon the cap and to be free throughout the balance of its length, the opposite end being formed into a loop, and an outwardly extending projection adapted to engage said huh, said loop beinginclined away from the plane of the spring to constitute a cam surface by means of which the projection `is-adapted to be withdrawn by the insertion of the wrench in the said openings.

3. In a wheel structure comprisinga hub and a hub cap having openings therethrough for the reception of a Spanner wrench, means for locking` said cap to said huh embodying a spring member having a bent inclined loop provided with an upstanding projection, said spring member being adapted to be anchored upon said cap with said projection normally extending` into locking engagement with said hub, the sides of said loop forming e guidewny adapted to receive said Wrench when the lutteriis thrust into said openings7 the travel of the wrench upon the inclined loop servingcg to depress the saine and thereby to move the seid projection to releasing position.

il. In zi vheel structure comprising zi hub and a hub czip having` openings therethrough for the reception or' a. Spanner Wrench, Ineens for locking` said cap to said hub eni bodying o locking n'iember ii'orined of Spring material7 saidineinber being adopted to be anchored at one ond upon sai-id ca p und hziving inclined bent portions et the other end, one 0l said inclined portions being provided with an angular projection normally adapted to extend into 'lockingengagement with :ifieen'ze seid hub ineinber, seid inclined parallel portions forming a guidewey for receiving e prongof said wrench when the latter is inserted through the openings in the oep, whereby seid prong travels upon the inclined guideivay and aotuates the loc-hingI ineniber to releasing position.

5. A locking member 'for preventing aceidentai displacement of a, hub cap upon n hub` comprising,` a spring, one end of which is adapted orvengageinent with said oep and the other end bentvto form an inclined tool receiving loolyheving zrlocking projection adapted to releasably engage said hub.

ture. Y v

FRANGIS JERDONE, JR.

In testimony whereof, aiiix iny Vsigna,- 

